Article transfer device



Oct. 23, 1962 J. B. wl-:sT

ARTICLE TRANSFER DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 5. 1960 Oct. 23,1962 J. B. WEST 3,059,756

ARTICLE TRANSFER DEVICE Filed April 5, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 o m v g on.l m l sl I m Q LI.

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INVENTOR. JOHN B. WEST ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1962 J. B. wEs'r 3,059,756

ARTICLE TRANSFER DEVICE Filed April 5, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7.

53 INVEN TOR.

JOHN B. WEST my. /W

ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 5, 1960 FIG. 8.

INVEN TOR. JOHN B. WEST ATTORNEY l 3,059,756 ARTICLE TRANSFER DEVICE.lohn B. West, Pikesviie, Md., assignor to Universal Malchine Co., Inc.,Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryand Filed Apr. 5, 1961), Ser. No.20,104 4 Claims. (Cl. 193-162) Another object of the invention is ltheprovision of a transfer device of the type mentioned which quicklycarries the objects to be Iconveyed away from the machine a givendistance and then orients and accumulates them on a relatively slowmoving belt to assure both a convenient position `of the product andsuicient time to pick the objects up and arrange them in the packingboxes. Quickly carrying the product Iaway from the machine, lassures theproper discharge of the product by minimizing the possibility of jammingwhich may otherwise occur when relying on manual efforts alone to keepthe discharge chute free and clear.

A further object of this invention is to discharge the product in such aconvenient manner that a subsequent increase in efficiency of thepacking operations may be realized.

A `still further object of this invention is to orient quickly theproducts to a vertical position `after discharge to prevent spillagetand/or ilowing of the contents.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means atconvenient stations for supporting the boxes while being lled with theproducts by the packers.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such Iadevice which receives the products to be conveyed in a manner tominimize breakage `and other damage thereto.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthe type mentioned which is reliable', long wearing, easy to keep inworking order and easy to keep in a sanitary condition.

These and still further objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following description consideredtogether with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of an embodimentof the invention attached to the delivery side of a noveltymanufacturing machine of the type referred to, said machine being shownfragmentarily.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. l with some additional parts brokenaway.

FIG. 3 is Ia section along the line 3---3` of FIG.

FIG. 4 is -a section along the line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a section along the line 5 5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is 'a section alonf the line 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a section along Ithe line 7-7 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a section along the line 8-8 of FIG.

Referring with more particulari-ty to the drawing in which like numeralsdesigna-te like parts, the embodirnent is illustrated in connection witha machine 11 `for manufacturing conical ice cream novelty products 12.The machine comprises :a horizontal rotary wheel 13 provided withapertures 14 for holding the conical members. At the discharge stationthere are provided a pair of vertical push bars 15 and 16, that arereciproca-ted up and down by transmission means 17 powered through achain drive 18 or any other suitable means. On the upward stroke of the'bars 15 tand 16, they cont-act the bottom of a/pair of completedconical products 12 in adjacent apertures 14 of the wheel 13 and elevatethem through corresponding openings 19 and 20 in a plate 21. Above theopenings 19 and 20 there is disposed an angular hood 22 which tipstheproducts forward as they rise under the action of the bars 15 and 16,whereby they fall forward `over a discharge chute 23, said chutelcomprising a downwardly projecting extension of the plate 21.

The embodiment of the present invention is adapted to receive theproducts lfrom Ithe chute 23 and carry them to a station convenient forremoval by the packers. It comprises a frame structure including bottomlongitudi# nal bars 24 and 25 laterally spaced apart. The inner ends ofthese bars are welded or otherwise secured to the front end of -a bottomplate 26 'and the outer end is secured by similar means to cross barsl27. Inter-mediate cross bars 28 are also provided at intervals betweenthe plate 26 and bar 27. The device is attached to the machine 11 bymeans of the plate 26 which is secured to a shelf 29 surrounding thereciprocating Vertical bars 15 and 16. Y j

At the .inner ends of the longitudinal bars 24 and 25, there are securedby welding or otherwise, a pair of uprights or standards 30 and 31,respectively. Spaced forwardly from these uprights is another pair ofsimilar uprights 32 4and 33. The upper ends of the uprights 3i) and 31rotatably support la cross shaft 34 and the upper ends of the uprights32 and 33 rotatably support cross shafts 35a and 35C respectively,substantially as shown. The shaft 34 is provided with a pair of outerpulleys 36 and 37 and a pair of inner pulleys 38, 39. The shafts 35a4and 35C fare provided with a corresponding set of outer pulleys 40, 41,respectively, andthe center shaft 35h with two inner pulleys 42, 43.'I'he pulleys are all secured to their respectiveshafts for rotationtherewith by any conventional means. Between the corresponding outerpulleys land inner pulleys of the shafts 34 and 35, there are disposedbelts 44, 45 and 46, 47, respectively. Each of these belts is in theform of an endless coil spring which is supported by the pulleys. Thespacing between the outer `and inner pulleysl are such as to permit eachpair of inner and outer belts to straddle and support the conicalobjects discharged bythe machine 11. See FIG. l.

Directly below the shaft 34, there is disposed a lower shaft 48 on thestandards 30 -and31. To the shat 48 there are secured la pair of outerpulleys 49, 50 directly below the pulleys 36, 37 and a pair of innerpulleys 51, 52 directly 'below the pulleys 38, 39, respectively.

At the outer end of the bars 24 and 25 there are provided uprights 53,54 on the outer sides and la middle standard 55 is secured to the crossbar 27. The uprights 53, 54 carry outer pulleys 56, 57 on stub shafts58, 59, respectively, while the middle standard 55 carries inner pulleys60, 61 yon la stub shaft 62.

Outer belts 63 and 64 are supported by and between outer pulleys 49, 56and 50, 57, respectively. Inner belts 65 Iand 66 are supported on andbetween inner pulleys 51, `and 52, 61, respectively. The belts 63, 64and 65, 66 are, thus, directly beneath the belts 44, 45 and 46, 47,respectively.

The upper reaches of the outer belts 63, 64 are supported bylongitudinal `angle bars 67 and 68 between the uprights 32 and 53 andthe corresponding uprights 33 and 54.

The upper reaches of the inner belts fand 66 are supported bylongitudinal angle bars 69, 70 between the middle standard 55 and amiddle standard 71 carried by the bar 28 and projecting upward tosupport the center of the shafts 35b and 48.

Bracing uprights 72 and 73 are provided at intervals on either sidebetween the bars 24, and the angle bars 67, 68. Interior bracingupn'ghts 74 are similarly provided at longitudinal intervals for theinterior angle bars 69, 70.

The outer end of the device may be supported by any suitable means, suchas the legs 76.

The upper shaft 34 is geared to the lower shaft 48 by -means of arelatively small pulley 77 on the upper shaft connected to a relativelylarge pulley 78 on the lower shaft by a belt 79.

The upper shaft 34 is driven by a motor 80 through the output shaft 81of a transmission 82. The `shaft 81 is connected -to the shaft 34 bymeans of a coupling 83. The input shaft 84 of the transmission 82 has apulley 85 which is geared to the take-ott pulley 86 of the motor by abelt 87.

The transmission and motor are mounted on a bracket 88 at the outer endof arms 89 yand 90 secured to .the bars 24 and 25 extending outwardly toone side, sub stantially as shown.

The transmission unit is of a conventional variable speed type and has ashiftable lever 91 for varying the speed of Ithe output shaft 81. Theouter end of the lever 91 is pivoted to a nut 92 on a lead screw 93mounted on a stanchion 94 of the transmission unit.

By these means the conical articles, as they are discharged by themachine 11, Iare received by the rapidly moving upper belts 44, 45 and46, 47 `and quickly moved away from the machine to the lower movingbelts 63, 64 and 65, 66 from which they are manually removed by packers`and placed in cartons or boxes.

Tables for supporting the boxes (not shown) into which the conical'articles are to be packed are disposed on either side oti the conveyorswhereby persons 15erforming the packing operations can work on bothsides as needed. These tables comprise inner longitudinal yangularmembers 9S and `96, the vertical sides 97 and 98 thereof, respectively,4being secured by welding or otherwise 1to the uprights 72 land 73. Thetables also comprises outer longitudinal angular members 99 and 100.

The angular members 95 and 96 have horizontal sections 101 and 102,respectively, which overlie corresponding horizontal sections 103 land104 of the outer angular members 99 and 100. These outer members areheld in position by bolts 105 and 106 tbreadedly engaged with thehorizontal sections 103 and 104, respectively, said bolts passingthrough slots 107 and 108 in horizontal arms 109 and 110of a bracket111. The vertical arms 112 and 113 of these brackets are also bolted tothe inner angular members 95 and 96 by bolts 114 and 115, respectively.

By virtue of the slots 107 and 108, the width of the tables can beadjusted, as indicated by the dotted lines of FIG. 8 by loosening thebolts 105 and 106, repositioning the members 99 and 100 within thelimitations of the slots 107 and 108 and then retightening the bolts.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A device for receiving conical objects to be packaged at a rststation and transferring them to a packing station comprising arelatively long lower pair of narrow endless conveyor belts spaced apartbetween said stati-ons to straddle the objects and support them at theirupper ends, a second upper pair of narrow relatively short endlessconveyorbelts directly above and vertically aligned with said lowerbelts at the first station, a frame supporting said belts between saidstations, a packing table secured to and carried by the frame at thesecond station, and means for driving at a relatively greater speed theupper belts in unison and for driving at a relatively slower speed thelower belts in unison, the space between the one pair of belts beingadjacent to and in direct vertical alignment with the space between theother pair of belts.

2. A unit for receiving conical objects to be packaged t from adischarge station and transferring them to a packing sta-tion comprisingmembers forming a longitudinal structural frame extending between thestations, a relatively long lower pair of narrow endless conveyor beltssupported on the frame between said stations, said belts being spaced`apart to straddle the conical products and support them at their upperends, a second upper pair of narrow relatively short endless conveyor`belts directly above and vertically aligned with said lower belts atthe discharge station, a frame supporting said belts between saidstations, a packing table secured to and carn'ed by the frame at thepacking station, and means for driving Said upper belts in unison and,`at a slower speed said lower belts in unison, the -space between onepair of belts being adjacent to and in direct vertical alignment withthe space between the other pair of belts.

3. A unit as defined by claim 2 and variable speed means for drivingsaid belts.

4. A unit as defined by claim 2 in which the belts are endless coilsprings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,154,562 Cowley Sept. 21, 1915 1,175,190 Stuart Mar. 14, 1916 1,456,858Partridge May 29, 1923 2,252,498 Flaws Aug. l2, 1941 2,769,523 OchwatNov. 6, 1956 2,857,042 Gaubert Oct. 21, 1958 2,959,271 4Adamson Nov. 8,1960

